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Book Review of Half Life: A Novel

Half Life: A Novel
reviewed on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Having a quite eclectic taste in books, especially "unusual" fiction, I really tried to like this book. What would have normally taken me a week or less to read took me months. I had to keep putting it down because it was that bad. I was determined to finish it though, so I could have a valid opinion. Jackson's use of Nora's narrative was confusing and dystorted. I suppose some of this was to lend to the different personalities and the suggestion to the reader that perhaps there were two narrators. I found it utterly confusing. Also, the transitions between past and present were shotty and dizzy-ing. I am all for charachter development, but when you have 30-40 charachters (outside of Nora and Blanch) who are introduced, it really makes you not want to care about any of them.
If it wasn't for paperbackswap this book would probably end up in my recycle bin, to save anyone else from torture and confusion. But, if after reading my opinion, you want to put yourself through it, feel free!